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Iain & Jamie from The Giant Brain, and Oliver from Tabletop Games Blog bring you a fortnightly show featuring the best in Tabletop Gaming News
Episodes

Feb 4, 2019
Feb 4, 2019
29 min
Iain, Jamie and Sam are back in the news saddle and are roping the best in Tabletop gaming news. On this episode we look at the smashing success of Tabletop Games on KS, wonder about some Russian inspired design, get excited about Captain Sonar and talk about ways we can all be more welcoming to new people in the hobby.
Headlines
Tabletop Games smashed records on KS this year
Dobble has smashed the million sales target
Our guys in Salisbury
News
Fog of Love sequel - Midlife Crisis
https://twitter.com/FogOfLoveGame/status/1087092840285507584
Days of Wonder announce Roll and Write game "Corinth"
http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2019/01/16/corinth-become-the-best-trader-of-the-mediterranean-sea/
http://www.leacock.com/blog/2019/1/29/announcing-era-medieval-age
Captain Sonar Campaign - Operation Dragon
https://www.matagot.com/en/catalog/extensions/captain-sonar-upgrade-two-op-ration-dragon/808/121
Tabletop Scotland Tickets are now available
https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/
Outro
Monopoly film secures Kevin Hart
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jan/17/kevin-hart-monopoly-film
The Robots are coming
Executive Producers
Lucky Sparrow Games Cafe
https://www.facebook.com/luckysparrowgamescafe/
Get in touch
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/brainwaves-board-game-and-tabletop-news-show/id1367090522?mt=2
Twitter - https://twitter.com/thegiantbrain
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain/
Website - http://www.giantbrain.co.uk/
Email - giantbrainuk@gmail.com

Jan 20, 2019
Jan 20, 2019
28 min
Happy New Year everyone and welcome to the first Brainwaves episode of 2019! Iain, Jamie and Sam are back to bring you the best in Tabletop Gaming News. This episode we cover the latest Middle Earth announcements from FFG, licensing issues for the Great Old Ones and the arrival of interactive TV to Netflix. Our Brainstorm covers Iain's resolution to reduce his collection down: how big does a collection need to be?
Headlines
Lord of the Rings: Journey to Middle Earth
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2019/1/11/the-lord-of-the-rings-journeys-in-middle-earth/
Netflix sued over Bandersnatch
Chaosium suspends Editions Sans-Detour license
https://www.chaosium.com/blogstatement-about-ditions-sansdtour
News
Terraforming Mars Legacy
Reversible Neoprene Space/Terrain Battle Mats Quickstarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gamingbooks/reversible-neoprene-space-terrain-battle-mats-quic
Dized KS 2 is a success
Outro
Dundee teen assaults people during dnd game
Monopoly Pizza
https://monopoly.hasbro.com/en-us/product/monopoly-pizza-board-game-for-kids-ages-8-and-up:3C39C14A-1045-46EF-8EBC-1EBA8DB231C5
Executive Producers
Lucky Sparrow Games Cafe
https://www.facebook.com/luckysparrowgamescafe/
Get in touch
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/brainwaves-board-game-and-tabletop-news-show/id1367090522?mt=2
Twitter - https://twitter.com/thegiantbrain
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain/
Website - http://www.giantbrain.co.uk/
Email - giantbrainuk@gmail.com

Jan 6, 2019
Jan 6, 2019
28 min
Happy New Year! We are taking a little break from the regular cast this week, but we didn't want to leave you with nothing to listen to. To this end we present the first of our Idle Thoughts podcasts. This is the cast we put out once a month to our patrons and features the team talking about the games they have played in the preceding month. This particular cast went out in November and features our October plays. We hope that this taster of the cast will give you an idea of the benefits of becoming a patron.
We would like to thank all our listeners for their support over the last year. The response to the cast has been excellent and we are looking forward to seeing what 2019 brings our way.
Many thanks
Iain, Jamie and Sam

Dec 23, 2018
Dec 23, 2018
42 min
On this final episode of the year, we bring you a special cast highlighting games that we have played over the last year or so that we really think deserve recognition in one way or another. We hope you enjoy it and look forward to bringing you more excellent news shows and specials over 2019. Thank you to everyone who has listened to us, got in touch and shared the cast. We are humbled by the response the podcast has gotten.
Iain, Jamie and Sam
Best short game - plays in under 30 mins
Iain - Carta Impera Victoria, Ludonaute
Jamie - Tank Chess, Forsage Games
Sam - Layers, Happy Boabab
Best Rulebook
Iain - Arkham Horror 3rd edition, FFG
Jamie - Blades in the Dark, John Harper & Evil Hat
Sam - Fog of Love, Hush Hush Projects
Best original Screenplay - An award for story in game
Iain - Arkham Horror LCG, FFG
Sam - Arkham Horror LCG, FFG
Jamie - Fog of Love, Hush Hush Projects
Best Adapted Screenplay - best game established from an intellectual property
Iain - Gladiatores, Badcat Games
Jamie - Battle for Rokugan, FFG
Sam - X-wing 2.0, FFG
Best Production/ most over produced game (suggested by Richard Simpson from the We’re Not Wizards podcast)
Iain - Cthluhu: Death may Die, CMON
Jamie - Dinosaur Island, Pandasauras games
Sam - My Little Scythe, Stonemaier Games
Best Visual Effects - An award for Art in games
Iain - Champion of the Wild, Big Imagination Games
Jamie - Troubled life of billy kerr, Hub Games
Sam - Keyforge, FFG
Most Innovative Product
Iain - Ruthless, Roland’s Revenge
Jamie - Fog of Love, Hush Hush Projects
Sam - Arkham Horror LCG, Labyrinths of Lunacy, FFG
Best Director - An award for best publisher
Iain - One Free Elephant
Jamie - Facade Games
Sam - FFG
Best Game we played this year, that wasn’t released this year - This is our game of the year award
Iain - Gloomhaven
Jamie - Photosynthesis
Sam - Azul
Best game that doesn’t exist
Iain - Eldritch Horror 2nd Edition
Jamie - Flicky Souls
Sam - Sushi-go Legacy, the unique deck game
Winner - Can you cook what the Rock is smelling

Dec 9, 2018
Dec 9, 2018
32 min
Welcome to Brainwaves a fortnightly podcast bringing you the best in Boardgame and Tabletop Gaming News. In our final regular episode of the year the guys cover falling profits, surprising mergers, new and ancient games alongside a whole bunch of license based news.
Headlines
Cmon fall in profits
http://www.tabletopwire.com/cmon-reports-losses-stock-continues-slide/
Board & Dice and NSKN merge
https://www.facebook.com/boardanddice/
Big Potato Games make a vending machine
https://toyworldmag.co.uk/news/big-potato-reveals-board-game-vending-machine/
News
Print and Play Arcade
Royal Game of Ur
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1411051/art-culture
Hasbro sued over pensions
License News
IDW announces Metal Gear Solid game
https://twitter.com/IDWGames/status/1068579678603149313
Clank Legacy: Acquisitions Acquired
https://www.direwolfdigital.com/news/clank-legacy-acquisitions-incorporated/
Brainstorm
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2016/12/22/iains-alternatives-to-the-usual-game-list/
Travels
Dragonmeet
Sumo Gnomes - https://twitter.com/Gumley
Aquanauts - http://itbboardgames.com/
Possession - https://www.crooked-tower.com/
Penance RPG - http://www.penancerpg.com/
Magnate - https://twitter.com/naylorjames
UK Indie RPG League - https://ukindierpgleague.com/
Lucky Sparrow Games Cafe
https://www.facebook.com/luckysparrowgamescafe/
Unlucky Frog - https://www.unluckyfrog.com/
Owen Duffy - https://twitter.com/owen_duffy
Outro
Don't step in it
Shoutout
We're Not Wizards KS - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/revatar/were-not-wizards-tabletop-podcast-biscuit-fund?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=we%27re%20not%20wizards
Executive Producers
Lucky Sparrow Games Cafe
Get in touch
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/brainwaves-board-game-and-tabletop-news-show/id1367090522?mt=2
Twitter - https://twitter.com/thegiantbrain
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain/
Website - http://www.giantbrain.co.uk/
Email - giantbrainuk@gmail.com

Nov 25, 2018
Nov 25, 2018
36 min
Welcome to Brainwaves a fortnightly podcast bringing you the best in Boardgame and Tabletop Gaming News. In this episode we cover controversy at White Wolf, Ninja Division's financial troubles, the launch of Keyforge and more! In Brainstorm the guys discuss the most used mechanics in games over 2018 and peer into the future at what we might see in 2019.
Headlines
White Wolf Implodes
https://www.white-wolf.com/newsblog/a-message-from-white-wolf
Ninja Division's $750k hole
Legal Doc
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Iu7HOs3mkd6GCve9LqHT_9Q5rdghW5xY/view
Keyforge
News
Gamer creates board game/rpg to help with anxiety
https://realideas.org/game-changer/
Black Mirror episode Nosedive to become a boardgame
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/265316/black-mirror-nosedive
Lord of the Rings Custom Scenario Kits
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2018/11/13/decide-your-destiny/
Brainstorm
From Simon Marr on Twitter. Original question "Game mechanics you would like to see the back of or see more of in 2019". We twisted that a little to be "What do we think was the most used mechanic in games that came out this year, and where do we think we will see innovation over the course of 2019".
Tail
Scout Monopoly
Game of Thrones Monopoly
https://mashable.com/article/monopoly-game-of-thrones/?europe=true
Patreon Shoutouts
Robert Ruthven, Lucky Sparrow Games Cafe. Opening 30th November.
https://m.facebook.com/luckysparrowgamescafe/
Get in touch
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/brainwaves-board-game-and-tabletop-news-show/id1367090522?mt=2
Twitter - https://twitter.com/thegiantbrain
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain/
Website - http://www.giantbrain.co.uk/
Email - giantbrainuk@gmail.com

Nov 11, 2018
Nov 11, 2018
30 min
Welcome to Brainwaves a fortnightly podcast bringing you the best in Boardgame and Tabletop Gaming News. In this episode we cover thefts at the Essen game fair, accusations of plagiarism, movies coming to games and games coming to movies as well as the innovations of Tabletopia and Tabletop Simulator.
Headlines
Essen Thefts
https://boardgamegeek.com/article/30345396#30345396
https://twitter.com/ArtipiaGames
https://twitter.com/DnDiceUK/status/1056663300648386561
This last link emerged after we had recorded and mentions other companies targeted we were not aware of
Dreamworks options Mice and Mystics
https://variety.com/2018/film/news/dreamworks-animation-mice-and-mystics-movie-1202992375/
Netrunner rises
https://www.facebook.com/NetrunnerNISEI/
https://stimhack.com/nisei-board-scores-personality-profiles/
News
Strange & Norrell
Amigo Spiele Accusations
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/2089688/official-amigo-statement-crypto-cartel-vs-bohnanza
CMON obtains Night of the Living Dead license
MIB/ Ghostbusters crossover
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/264227/men-blackghostbusters-ecto-terrestrial-invasion
RPG Corner
Root RPG
John Wick Presents announcement
No public link, only for backers
Brainstorm
https://store.steampowered.com/app/286160/Tabletop_Simulator/
Tail
Monopoly for Millennials
Shoutouts
Lloyd Burt - our latest patron, thanks Lloyd!
Mairi Jacks, the winner of our Escape the Dark Castle giveaway. Congratulations!
Get in touch
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/brainwaves-board-game-and-tabletop-news-show/id1367090522?mt=2
Twitter - https://twitter.com/thegiantbrain
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain/
Website - http://www.giantbrain.co.uk/
Email - giantbrainuk@gmail.com

Oct 28, 2018
Oct 28, 2018
32 min
Welcome to Brainwaves a fortnightly podcast bringing you the best in Boardgame and Tabletop Gaming News. In this episode we start with some sad news from the world of RPGs move onto some good news about the return and expansion of some of our favourites and discuss if the cult of the new allows some games to get away with low replayability.
Headlines
Greg Stafford Death
https://www.chaosium.com/blogvale-greg-stafford-1948-2018/
Dized KS (now cancelled)
Games Workshop Stocks
News
Keyforge
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/keyforge/
Arkham Horror LCG - The Circle Undone
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2018/10/12/the-circle-undone/
Fog of Love expansions and LGBT content
https://twitter.com/FogOfLoveGame/status/1050355936269877253
Gencon extends Indy contact
Evil Hat scales back
Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Ex- Libris
https://www.renegadegamestudios.com/ex-libris/
Brainstorm
Thanks to listener Richard Vernon for this week's question
Tail
Paul Dean is leaving SUSD
https://www.shutupandsitdown.com/paul-is-moving-to-pastures-new/
Giant Brain on tour!
Glasgow Games Festival
https://www.facebook.com/glasgowgamesfestival/
Dragonmeet
Get in touch
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/brainwaves-board-game-and-tabletop-news-show/id1367090522?mt=2
Twitter - https://twitter.com/thegiantbrain
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain/
Website - http://www.giantbrain.co.uk/
Email - giantbrainuk@gmail.com

Oct 21, 2018
Oct 21, 2018
1hr 12 min
Welcome to a very special episode of Brainwaves. We interrupt your normal programming to bring you an investigation into the state of the Dized App, a companion app for boardgames that teaches games through interactive tutorials and rules. We have interviews with Mike Barnes of Who Dares Roll, former UK Regional Manager for Dized, and Jared Miller, Dized Marketing and Social Media manager. We cover a wide range of topics with both our interviewees from the inception of the app right up to the present day and the launch of the Kickstarter.
Since the recording of this episode the Kickstarter has been cancelled and we will be covering this news in the next regular episode of Brainwaves.
Links from this episode
Mike Barnes- Who Dares Rolls
Jared Miller - Dized
Indiegogo campaign
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dized-board-games-made-easy#/
KS Campaign (now cancelled)
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dized/dized-the-best-way-to-learn-board-games/description
https://www.facebook.com/getdized/

Oct 14, 2018
Oct 14, 2018
35 min
Welcome to Brainwaves a fortnightly podcast bringing you the best in Boardgame and Tabletop Gaming News. In this episode Catan gets seedy, Evil Dead 2 rises once more (sort of), a whole truck of deliveries turns up for RPG corner and the guys discuss the difference between standalone games and community games.
Headlines
Catan Crop Trust - https://www.catan.com/game/catan-scenario-crop-trust
Seedbank - https://www.croptrust.org/our-work/svalbard-global-seed-vault/
Evil Dead 2 and Jasco - https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/board-games/news/the-disastrous-evil-dead-2-board-game-is-being-resurrected-by-a-new
Hasbro Self Parody - https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/board-games/news/game-of-life-quarter-life-crisis-gets-a-little-too-real-by-plunging
News
CEX taking boardgame tradeins - https://uk.webuy.com/search/?categoryIds=1106&categoryName=board-games#ng-jmrrwy25
Leagcy for kids - https://www.scorpionmasque.com/en/zombie-kidz-evolution
RPG Corner
Android book for Genesys - https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2018/10/2/shadow-of-the-beanstalk/
Fria Lagan Merger - http://frialigan.se/en/news/#/pressreleases/free-league-and-jaernringen-become-one-2739714
Smart Party Interview - https://smartparty.wordpress.com/2018/09/20/judge-dredd-and-the-worlds-of-2000ad/
Cthlhu Mythos for 5E - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/petersengames/sandy-petersens-cthulhu-mythos-for-5e?ref=ax61jw
Become a Patron!
You now get access to an extended version of the cast from the $1 tier and up!
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=5414048
Get in touch
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/brainwaves-board-game-and-tabletop-news-show/id1367090522?mt=2
Twitter - https://twitter.com/thegiantbrain
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain/
Website - http://www.giantbrain.co.uk/
Email - giantbrainuk@gmail.com
